Fakenham Roofers installs and repairs flat roofs on extensions, garages, and outbuildings for homeowners in Heacham, using EPDM rubber and modern felt systems built to perform for the long term.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A flat roof is not truly flat - it is laid to a slight fall, usually between 1:40 and 1:80, so water drains to a gutter or outlet rather than sitting on the surface. Getting that fall right during installation is one of the most important parts of the job. If it is wrong, water pools, and pooling water will find its way through any weakness in the membrane over time.
The most common flat roof jobs are on single-storey rear extensions, garage roofs, bay window tops, and flat-roofed outbuildings. The work involves stripping the old covering, inspecting the deck beneath, repairing or replacing any rotten or damaged boarding, and then laying the new membrane with all the upstands, flashings, and edge trims that keep it watertight at the perimeter.
Older flat roofs were typically covered in three-layer built-up felt, which had a realistic lifespan of around ten to fifteen years before it began to blister, crack, and leak. Modern systems perform significantly better. EPDM rubber membranes are single-ply sheets that resist ultraviolet light and stay flexible through frost and summer heat. When correctly bonded and detailed at edges and upstands, an EPDM membrane can last thirty years or more without requiring anything more than occasional visual checks.
Modern torch-on felt systems, which use reinforced polymer-modified bitumen rather than the old mineral felt, also outperform what was installed on most homes before the 1990s. They sit between traditional felt and EPDM in terms of cost and longevity, and are a reasonable option where the budget does not stretch to a full rubber system.
Typical flat roof installation costs in Norfolk range from around £70 to £120 per square metre fully installed, depending on the system chosen, the condition of the existing deck, and access. A standard garage roof of around 15 square metres might cost £1,100 to £1,800. An extension roof of 25 to 30 square metres might come to £1,800 to £3,500. These figures should be used only as a starting point - a proper quote requires a physical survey.
This is the section most homeowners skip, and it is the one that causes the most regret. A flat roof is not a visible, kerb-appeal job the way a new front elevation is. The quality of a flat roof is almost entirely hidden in the details - how the drip edge is terminated, how the upstands are taken up the wall, whether the membrane is bonded firmly at the corners. You cannot easily see these things once the job is done, which means you need to judge the contractor before work starts.
Any contractor who pushes you to sign or pay a deposit before they have physically inspected the roof is worth approaching with caution. A flat roof quote given over the phone or from a photo alone cannot properly account for deck condition, drainage, or the complexity of the upstands.
Be wary of very low prices. Flat roofing done cheaply almost always means one of three things: a thinner or lower-quality membrane, inadequate deck inspection, or corner-cutting on the edge details. These are the parts that determine how long the roof actually lasts.
Equally, be sceptical of quotes that are significantly higher than others without a clear explanation of why. Ask every contractor to walk you through what is in the price.
Once you have two or three quotes, lay them side by side and check that they are comparing the same scope. Do they all propose stripping back to the deck? Are they all using the same membrane system? Does each quote include the edge trim and flashings, or are those priced separately? A quote that looks cheaper may simply be for less work.
Ask each contractor what happens if the deck is found to be worse than expected when they strip the roof. A reputable roofer will give you a day rate or a per-sheet price for additional boarding so you know what to budget for, rather than simply presenting a larger invoice at the end.
The surface should be clean and wrinkle-free, with no bubbles or areas where the membrane has lifted. All upstands should be taken at least 150mm up any adjoining wall and fully bonded. The edge trim or drip edge should be tight and continuous. Outlets or gutters should be clear and the roof should drain freely - you can check this by running a hose across the surface after completion. If water sits anywhere other than the outlet, raise it with the contractor before they leave.
We are based in Fakenham and work with homeowners in Heacham and the surrounding area. We install EPDM rubber systems and modern torch-on felt, and we carry out a physical survey of every roof before we quote. Call us to arrange a flat roof survey and we will give you a written breakdown of what needs doing and why.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
